E-News March 2014

The changing of seasons is upon us…sort of! With longer days and brighter sunlight, Acadia’s critters are shifting to their springtime habits. Raucous crews of blue jays fly by, cardinals are defending their territory by song, and peregrine falcons have been spotted right over Main Street in Bar Harbor. But frigid temperatures are hanging on, with some more snow in the forecast. Whether your favorite ways to enjoy Acadia have you looking ahead to spring or eking out the last bits of winter, our March E-News has something for you. Thanks for reading, and thanks for being a friend of Acadia.

Acadia Winter Trails: The volunteers of the Acadia Winter Trails Association have worked hard this winter to keep Acadia’s carriage roads groomed for traditional cross-country skiers and skate skiers. One volunteer had logged an incredible 74 hours of grooming time by the first week of March. Although spring can’t be far away, there’s still time to get out and enjoy some of the most scenic cross-country skiing to be found, with continuing cold and some more snow in the forecast for this week.

2014 Membership Challenge: Last week, we made our 2014 Membership Challenge in less than 24 hours—with 74 members, long-time and brand-new, contributing in record time to trigger a $10,000 matching grant for our spring membership appeal. We’re bowled over by the support and grateful to every one who helped.

If you missed the chance to participate, there’s still time to join or renew online and have a real impact for Friends of Acadia and the park we all love. We have a long way to go to meet our spring membership goal, and will mail physical appeal letters in about a week. Current members can donate by midnight on Monday, March 10 to allow us to remove your name from the paper mailing, making our membership drive more efficient and environmentally friendly. However you give, please know that our members are vital to the success of Friends of Acadia’s efforts to preserve and protect Acadia National Park. Thank you for being a part of it!

Peregrine Falcon Nesting Sites: As we noted above, peregrine falcons have returned to Acadia, and (we hope!) will be starting their spring courting and nesting. The annual closure for several popular hiking trails in the park—including the Precipice Trail, Jordan Cliffs, and Valley Cove—is scheduled for this Saturday, March 15. Peregrines may fail to raise chicks if people come too close to nests, so it’s very important that every Acadia visitor respect the trail closures.

Friends of Acadia is currently accepting applications for a Seasonal Communications Assistant for the 2014 summer season. We’re looking for a personable, flexible self-starter with experience in digital video filming and editing—a great opportunity for college upperclassmen or recent grads. Yes, part of this job involves getting outside in the park! Details are at friendsofacadia.org/about-us/employment-opportunities/.

Plus: We will have several other seasonal and full-time positions opening up during the month of March, including two positions in the development department, a seasonal field crew leader, and a full-time programs position. Job descriptions and application information will be posted on our Employment Opportunities page, so check in later this month.

Acadia Night Sky Festival Poster Artwork Contest

The Acadia Night Sky Festival is looking for striking photography or artwork that captures the night sky above Acadia or Downeast Maine, for use in the annual festival poster and related marketing materials. The winning image should portray Acadia or Downeast Maine in a recognizable way, with celestial objects included in the composition. The contest deadline is Monday, March 31, 2014. For more information, visit www.acadianightskyfestival.org.

The Acadia Night Sky Festival is a community celebration to promote the protection and enjoyment of Downeast and Acadia’s stellar night sky as a valuable natural resource through education, science and the arts. The 2014 Festival is scheduled for September 25 – 29.